GEW Urges Extra Budget to Enhance School Social Work Assistance
The education union GEW is urging the state to provide more financial aid to strengthen school social work support. Monika Stein, the GEW's state chairwoman, argued passionately for a return to the agreed-upon one-third funding during a Stuttgart meeting on Wednesday. Despite municipalities being responsible for funding this service according to the Ministry of Social Affairs, current local authorities receive just 16,700 euros per role yearly. Due to expenses rising and salary increases, this sum no longer equates to one-third funding.
"Calculations by the Association of Cities and Towns suggest that one-third financing would total 22,000 euros per post," stated Stein.
The state authorities have been covering one-third of school social work costs since 2012. School social work plays a crucial role in mitigating educational disparities and poverty while assisting teachers, according to Stein. School social workers offer vital support to pupils dealing with complex life situations, providing essential aid at minimal thresholds.
GEW emphasizes the necessity of expanding school social work services. While it's already present in most secondary schools, intermediate schools, comprehensive schools, and grammar schools, it's only available for around 55% of elementary schools. With an estimated 1900 school social worker positions in the south-west in 2022, approximately 2800 employees manage these roles. In 2012, there were only 829 positions.
School social work receives mixed reactions. Social Affairs Minister Manne Lucha (Greens) celebrates it as a significant step toward reducing educational disparities and supporting students struggling academically. Meanwhile, the AfD is skeptical and advocates for better early language support, more teachers, and less bureaucracy in schools.
Young social workers are often seen as assistants for heavily burdened schools. According to Stein, they may be tasked with supplementary school-related responsibilities, such as covering missed lessons and implementing educational plans. However, this shouldn't be the primary function of school social work.
Sources:
Insights:
- GEW's push for additional funding for school social work services is not explicitly addressed in the provided sources. However, they discuss broader funding demands and societal issues in Germany and Baden-Württemberg.
- The Stadtanzeiger für Pforzheim article discusses the need for heightened funding for social services and the importance of preserving such services.
- The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung article advocates for appropriate funding for social services and education, supporting a robust safety net.
- Neither DAAD nor Heinrich Böll Foundation directly addresses funding for school social work positions, but they operate as organizations providing scholarships.
By providing vital funding and resources, school social work can help empower students and alleviate teachers' burdens. Despite criticisms, GEW continues to advocate for expanding this essential service to provide vital support to students facing difficult situations.
